Ultimate Visitors Guide To Sint Maarten and Saint Martin (SXM)
We Love SXM Mural - Maho - Dutch Sint Maarten
*Updated February 2024*
SXM is an island of many names; “Sint Maarten,” “Saint Martin,” “SXM,” “Europe of the Caribbean,” “The Friendly Island,” “The Culinary Capital of the Caribbean” or its Indigenous name(s) Soualiga - “The Land of Salt” & Oualichi “Land of Beautiful and Strong Women.” Whatever name you choose to call this beautiful island in the Caribbean, it will not disappoint!
We created this guide while living in SXM during 2023!
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This map will help you plan your visit and visualize the island’s layout!
Related Blogs
>Gluten-Free and Celiac Guide To St Maarten and St Martin (SXM)<
>21 Signature Cocktails You Need To Try In St Maarten and St Martin (SXM)<
Coming Soon: Best Happy Hours In St Maarten
Coming Soon: Best Beaches In St Maarten
Coming Soon: Top 10 Mojitos In SXM
Table of Contents
*Click Each Heading To Jump Directly To The Section*
Dutch Sint Maarten vs French St. Martin
One Island, Two Nations. This small island of approximately 80,000 citizens welcomes over 3 million visitors yearly.
A living legacy of European colonialism, the island is an internationally recognized territory of two European countries an ocean away. French Saint Martin takes up 53 km² on the Northern side. Dutch Sint Maarten takes up 34 km² on the Southern side.
The French capital Marigot faces West with ferry terminals servicing British Anguilla.
The Dutch capital Philipsburg faces South with cruise ship and ferry terminals servicing other Caribbean islands like Saba and St. Barts.
Many visitors arrive at Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the Dutch side between Maho and Simpson Bay. Regional flights to other islands are serviced through Grand Case Airport.
An inland lagoon connects Marigot & Simpson Bay to the Caribbean Sea & Anguilla Channel.
Come experience both nations!
SXM Visa Requirements
A valid passport from the United States, the Schengen Area, or CANZUK will grant visa-free entry for up to 90 days on the island. Ensure your passport is up to date for six months after arrival.
Follow the visa application process if you plan to work or stay longer than 90 days.
For those coming to the island from other countries, find information here.
Are There Border Crossings Between Each Side of The Island
No Passport Is Required To Pass From The Dutch To French Side
No! One island, two nations, no borders. Similar to the Schengen Zone in Europe there are no internal borders on SXM. You can drive/walk/bike/boat from one side of the island to the other.
There are welcome signs when entering the French Side of the island from the Dutch side, but no checkpoints! Come experience two nations for the price of one!
Visitors can travel freely between both of Saint Martin’s nations when they >rent a vehicle< or >take a tour< of the island!
What Languages Are Spoken In SXM
Sint Maarten and Saint Martin are excellent places to practice speaking diverse languages. Many locals and youth raised on the island speak three languages (English, French, and Dutch).
The French side seems to honour their First Language roots more than the Dutch side, so expect to hear and read a lot of French!
Street signage and business on the Dutch side is almost exclusively done in English so many US tourists stay on the Dutch side!
Price of Living & Where To Buy Groceries
Compared to some nearby Central/South American countries, and some other Caribbean islands, SXM is extremely expensive. Expect to pay North American/European prices for everything from groceries to activities and accommodation. Most things on the island must be imported, they are competed over by the 3 million visitors a year.
There are budget and local options! But, accessing them requires planning and time, something many visitors lack. Every first and third Saturday of the month is a local farmers market at Port de Plaisance in Simpson Bay!
Arrowroot Farms and SXM Agriculture offer local produce orders & deliveries. Some restaurants locally source food.
From our experiences, groceries tend to be cheaper on the French side of the island. Most areas have at least one supermarket, with Carrefour being the main grocery importer/chain on the Dutch Side. In French Saint Martin, CADISMARKET grocery/gas chains have several locations. Cost.U.Less on the outskirts of Philipsburg is an excellent super/bulk stores for buying cleaning supplies, household products, food, produce, etc.
Currencies Used, Credit Cards Accepted, ATMs
US Dollars Are Accepted At Most Places On The Island
Currencies and payment methods are where SXM gets very confusing for visitors. Put simply, both sides accept the US dollar alongside the local currency.
In Dutch Sint Maarten prices are listed in the Netherlands Antillean Guilder (used in Curacao, Sint Maarten, and other Dutch colonies) and the US Dollar. When paying by credit/debit card on the Dutch side most businesses charge a standard conversion rate of 1 USD = 1.80 Guilders. ATMs on the Dutch side give the option of withdrawing USD or ANG.
French Saint Martin is easier for experienced European travellers as they use the Euro. However, the French side also accepts US Dollars on par with the Euro.
Most ATMs charge a 7-10 USD/EUR withdrawal fee, so avoid small withdrawals! Maho Casino has the smallest withdrawal fee we’ve seen on the island at $5 per transaction.
Plug-ins and Adapters
The one island, two nations statement also applies to electricity. Most accommodations and public buildings in Dutch Sint Maarten use standard US three-prong outlets. French Saint Martin uses standard EU outlets so visitors from North America should prepare to need an EU adapter when powering their tech products on the French Side.
Come prepared as adapters are expensive on the island!
SIM Cards and Mobile Phone Plans
If you are from Europe you may have free roaming on each side of the island, check with your provider.
Those from North America should buy a local SIM card due to the lack of quality international roaming plans offered by Canadian and American providers. We have been using two different SIM cards. Our Pre-paid 3 UK SIM Card works on both sides of the island. We also have been using a Chippie Pre-Paid Sim.
An 8GB data-only SIM can be purchased at SXM airport for $45 USD, data + texting and calling can be added online once the SIM card has been set up. Chippie also has combo packages that go on sale here!
Most businesses and locals use Whatsapp for texting.
Getting Around SXM (Transportation Options)
Cupecoy Beach Sunset - Dutch Sint Maarten
The best way to get around the island is to rent a vehicle.
You can compare prices from multiple companies on >Discovercars.com<.
>Rentalcars.com< compares prices at all of the major rental agencies on the island and schedules pickup at arrival location.
We rented from CCB Rentals in Nettle Bay. We have not been able to find a cheaper price than CCB’s 33 Euros/day weekly rate for a small 4-door car, but we encourage you to do your research.
The island’s terrain and public infrastructure are extremely vehicle-oriented. You can rent a small car for an average of USD 45/day on the Dutch side or 45 Euros/day on the French side. Make sure to buy accident insurance!
In comparison to rentals, a taxi ride from the airport to your accommodation will cost you $15-30 for a single trip. Taxis will have license plates that say “Taxi” on them.
For those on a smaller budget, there is public transport on both sides of the island. Locals use it, it’s safe, and it is relatively easy to use once you understand how it works. Public transport buses will have a license plate that starts with a “B”. Routes run from the airport to Maho, Phillipsburg, or Marigot. Common routes run from Maho to Phillipsburg, Phillipsburg to Marigot, and Marigot to Grand Case. Prices range from $2-3 per ride. Drivers are self-employed, they may even take you further than their normal routes for a tip. Buses will stop where you ask them to, you don’t need to wait for stops.
Bicycle rentals are available at Tri-Sport, but be aware there are no bike lanes in SXM.
Is SXM Safe For Females and Solo Travellers
Put simply, yes! As with any country/city in the world, use common sense, especially in lower-income areas.
Some areas that get a bad reputation are Sandy Ground (near Marigot), Dutch Cul-De-Sac, Sucker Garden, Dutch Quarter, and French Quarter. As with everywhere else in the world, lock your doors and rental cars. Do not let the news or the negative experiences of a few people deter you from visiting “The Friendly Island”!
Also, unlike the United States, Canada, and the UK, we have seen little to zero homeless people on the island. Beggars are not something you have to worry about. Even in the touristy areas, you do not have people trying to push cheap tourist memorabilia into your face like in Spain, Italy or other European countries.
Best Areas To Stay/Live/Rent In SXM
From our experiences on the island thus far, the best place for expats to stay is Cupecoy (Dutch Side). Cupecoy is home to the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine which has around 1000 enrolled students. Cupecoy is also home to a Canadian private school, so put those two together and you get a thriving expat village. There are many North American/EU-priced condos ($1200-1500/month) available in Cupecoy for 4-month minimum rentals. Cupecoy has over a dozen restaurants, Mullet Bay Beach is within walking distance, Cupecoy Beach is excellent for sunsets, four grocery stores are within walking distance of each other, and it is a quiet area at night. Cupecoy locals love to start their morning at Jule’s French Cafe.
The best places for tourists to stay are Simpson Bay, Maho, Philipsburg, and Grand Case. Simpson Bay and Maho are the nightlife and entertainment hot spots on the island with endless bars, clubs, and food options. Grand Case, at the Northern tip of French Saint Martin, is more relaxing and is home to some of the best beach-side restaurants.
For luxury travel look in the Terre Basses region with >Villa Rentals< and private beaches
We lived in Nettle Bay (French Side). The area is great for villa rentals and has around a dozen beach-side bars/restaurants. Located on Rue Sandy Ground, Nettle Bay has easy access to both the ocean and in-land lagoon. Nettle Bay is quiet at night, but far away from the nightlife hotspots like Simpson Bay and Maho.
Choose your accommodation wisely, and read other travellers’ reviews. Links to hotels and resorts below!
>Philipsburg< - Dutch Capitol & Cruise Ship Terminal
>Simpson Bay< - Food, Entertainment, Nightlife, Marina
>Maho<- Resorts, Food, Beaches
>Cupecoy< - Marina, Beaches, Food
>Orient Bay< - Beach Resorts
>Grand Case< - Food, Entertainment, Beaches
>Nettle Bay< - Gated Condos, Private Beaches
>Marigot< - French Capitol, Marina
>Les Terres Basses< - Villa Rentals
St Martin Island Aerial View
SXM Geography
Location: SXM is a small Caribbean island (95 km²) in the Lesser Antilles, or the Leeward Islands. British Anguilla is located North of French Saint Martin and can be seen from many French beaches. Dutch Saba is located southeast of Dutch Sint Maarten and the volcanic island can be seen on a clear day from Dutch beaches. French Saint Barthélemy is to the southwest of Dutch Sint Maarten. These neighbouring islands can be reached by Ferry or Day Trips from Marigot and Phillipsburg.
History: The Indigenous peoples of the island had two land-based names for it "Soualiga" (the land of salt) and "Oualichi" (the land of powerful & brave women). Christopher Columbus “discovered” and “named” the island in the late 1400s, but it was not used as a European colony until the 1600s. The rolling, hilly terrain of the island made large-scale agriculture difficult. However, the European colonists were successful in creating monoculture plantations of tobacco, sugar, and cotton, with livestock grazing providing meat. The trans-Atlantic slave trade played a major role in the island’s history and the development of its Afro-Caribbean culture. Very little native vegetation/biodiversity remains except in the hills.
Island: Today, SXM’s mountainous interior (chocolate hills) and 37 beaches welcome tourism as its main economic source. The highest peak is Pic Paradis on the French side which can be reached by vehicle. As mentioned before, there is an in-land salt water Lagoon that connects Marigot to Simpson Bay via a system of canals. Day trips (see below) can be organized to the offshore islands of Tintamarre or Pinel Island. SXM is surrounded by small coral reefs that offer great snorkelling or scuba diving activities (see below). SXM sits on top of a volcanic fault line which can cause Earthquakes. This also means that the nearby Saba Volcano is active, with the last major eruption happening in the 1600s.
Hurricane season impacts SXM and neighbouring islands during the summer months of June-September. Hurricane season and “down-season” for tourism align.
Wildlife: SXM is home to many reptiles including turtles, lizards, geckos, and iguanas. Keep an eye out for the invasive vervet monkeys. Pet monkeys who escaped during hurricanes are notoriously hard to photograph and predict their population size. The Dutch government approved a plan in 2023 to exterminate all of the invasive monkeys on their side of the island, which was met with push-back from locals and activists. Other wildlife includes birds, marine life, insects, and sizeable populations of stray cats and dogs.
We Lived On St Martin Island In 2023
Things To Do In SXM
This section uses affiliate links to help support the growth of Bordersology. If you are planning to book any activities, please click the links below and we will make a small commission (at no cost to you) for every booking made within 30 days. Many of these experiences can be done on your own but may require more time and planning.
Philipsburg Historic Clock
Links To Tourist Attractions
Marigot Boardwalk Restaurants
Links To Activities
Links Excursions & Day Trips
British Anguilla can be reached by public ferry from 9:30 am until 515pm daily. The ferry costs $76 round trip with port fees.
Ultimate Anguilla and Prickly Pear Experience With Buffet Lunch
Prickly Pear Cays Catamaran Trip With Island Restaurant Lunch
Captain Bob’s Full Day Speed Boat Excursion (#1 rated trip)
Full-day Snorkelling and Beach Excursion With Included Lunch
Mullet Bay Beach
Landmarks
Fort Amsterdam (Philipsburg)
Fort Louis (Marigot)
Street art & murals (everywhere)
Peace and Friendship Monument for Dutch/French sides
SXM Airport + Maho Beach
Philipsburg Courthouse (pineapple on top)
Simpson Bay Fish Market (local catch of the day)
Hurricane damaged structures/ruins
Links To Nature/Green Tourism
Fishing Charters
Simpson Bay Farmers Market (1st & 3rd Saturday of the month)
Pic Paradise Hiking (you can drive most of the way to the top)
Naked Boy Hill Hiking
Guana Bay Hiking
Mullet Bay Sunrise - Dutch Sint Maarten
Best Beaches
Nettle Bay Sunset - French Saint Martin
Stay tuned for a blog about the Top 10 Beaches
Baie Rouge (Nettle Bay)
Orient Beach
Mullet Bay Beach (Maho)
Simpson Bay Beach
Grand Case Beach Bars
Kim Sha Beach (Simpson Bay)
La Samana Beach (Terre Basse)
Boho Beach Bar
Maho Beach
Long Bay
Little Divi Beach
Best Sunset Spots
Cupecoy Beach (perfect for sunsets over the horizon)
Ma Ti Beach Bar (for those staying in Nettle Bay)
La Terrasse Rooftop Bar (for those in Marigot)
Sentry Hill (360 view of the island and sunset)
Sunset Beach Bar (Maho)
Kim Sha Beach (Simpson Bay)
L’Pied dans L’Sable (Nettle Bay sunset cocktails)
Food & Cuisine
Restaurants We Recommend
Check out our 30 Best Restaurants in SXM Blog and Gluten-Free & Celiac Guide to SXM!
Gluten-free (celiac-friendly) options are limited.
Avantika Thai (gluten-free menu, Simpson Bay)
Roma Italian (gluten-free menu, Maho)
Lagoonies (gluten-free menu, most sustainable restaurant, Cole Bay)
Spaghetti House (gluten-free options, Cupecoy)
Mr. Papaya’s Coffee (gluten-free crepes, Maho)
Lazy Lizard (ask Nick the owner for celiac-friendly options, Philipsburg)
Rainbow Cafe (best lunch by the beach, Grand Case)
ROXXY Beach Bar & Restaurant (Simpson Bay)
BBQ Saturday in Sandy Ground (locals selling on the street)
Taco Tuesday at La Chingona Taqueria (Cupecoy)
Mr. Chow’s Asian Fusion (Maho)
Bamboo House (Cole Bay)
Palapa Grill (Simpson Bay)
Alina Japanese Restaurant (Maho)
Le Moulin Fou (Maho)
Reveil Matin (Brunch - Simpson Bay)
Mezza Luna (Nettle Bay)
Emilio’s Historical Culinary Experience (Sentry Hill)
Fat Tony’s American Pub (Cupecoy)
3 Amigos Mexican (Maho)
Jule’s Cafe & Bakery (Cupecoy)
Rusty Rocket (best burgers on the island)
The Green House (best happy hour deals, Philipsburg & Simpson Bay)
Le Telegraph (Orient Bay)
Coco Beach (Orient Bay)
Salt (Maho)
La Patrona Mexican (Simpson Bay)
Balls and Wine (Simpson Bay)
Cupecoy Brasserie (French Cuisine)
Talk of the Town (cheap, locally owned food, Grand Case)
Ocean 82 (gluten-free menu, Grand Case)
Bars and Nightlife
Rainbow Cafe (fancy, beach-side cocktails)
Pelikaan Brewery Taproom (craft beer)
Dutch Blonde Brewery (craft beer)
Lotus Nightclub (expensive clubbing)
Ma Ti Beach Bar (sunset cocktails)
Mimosa Skylounge (fancy cocktails)
Moonbar Nightclub (rooftop club)
ROXY Beach (fancy, beach-side cocktails)
L’Pied dans L’Sable (sunset cocktails)
SXM Brewery Tour (local beer)
Cocky Turtle ($8 for every drink)
Bamboo House (fancy cocktails)
Sunset Beach Bar (#1 rated bar, cocktails + planes landing)
The Red Piano (live music)
Palapa Lounge (fancy cocktails)
Loterie Farm (nature & poolside cocktails)
Captain Frenchy’s (beach-side drinks)
>21 Signature Cocktails You Need To Try In St. Maarten And St. Martin (SXM)<
Interesting Facts & Other Information About SXM
Tipping is common, and American tourists have helped make it an expectation for many local businesses. Some places will automatically charge a 13-15% service charge, in this case, no tip required.
Canadian visitors will be happy to know that there aren’t any post-sale taxes on purchases or bills. What you see listed, is the price! This reality is awesome for those used to paying 13% PST + 10-15% tips on bills when going out for drinks or food!
“The Trash Island” is how Nature Foundation SXM often describes SXM. There is a problem on this island of tourists (and some locals) having zero respect for keeping this tropical paradise clean. We cannot understand how one can throw their trash on the ground instead of walking 20 steps to a trash can. But, some have a different moral compass. If our advice brings you here, please respect the land and natural elements! Leave the island better than you found it!
From conversations with locals, Dutch Sint Maarten is more conservative (in terms of public/legal policy) than their French neighbours. For example, abortion is legal on the French side but technically illegal on the Dutch side. LQBTQIA2+ individuals are welcome and safe on the island, but same-sex marriages are technically not allowed to be performed. Recycling programs exist on the French side, but not on the Dutch side. These conversations were shocking to have, as the Netherlands is commonly viewed as one of the most progressive countries in the world. The same can not be said for their colonial islands with self-governance.
We Are SXM is the largest tourism agency on the island. Check out their website or app for more info.
Cupecoy Beach Sunset - Dutch Sint Maarten
Before You Go!
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